Key national figures and investors gather at the summit to discuss opportunities in the state’s rich agricultural, energy, and mineral sectors, under the theme “Unlocking Taraba’s Investment Potentials: Advancing Agriculture, Energy, Mining, and Industrialization (AEMI) for Sustainable Growth and Development.”
The Taraba State government is in charge of organizing the summit.
Watch the below live stream of the event:
Aliko Dangote, the group’s president, has advised the federal and state governments to support local investors’ economic development.
Attracted investors from all over Nigeria and beyond with his advice at the Taraba International Investment Summit in Jalingo.
According to the richest man in Africa, domestic investors are the ones who will draw foreign investors because, in his opinion, no foreign investors would enter a nation where local businesses are struggling.
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The only way for you to attract foreign investors or investors is through local investors, my Excellency, please. Foreign investors are the ones who actually draw foreign investors.
No foreigner will invest if you don’t invite local investors to do so. Only when they see potential for investment, are foreigners drawn to them. They will come once they understand that, yes, things are flowing, according to Dangote.
He further made it clear that for every one nige earned at his Dangote Cement factory, the federal government pays fifty-two kobo.
“I’m sure it might interest you to know that our cement business, for instance, is the source of more revenue for the federal government of Nigeria, not even the state. 52 kobo is given to the federal government of Nigeria for every N1 we turn around. That is the advantage, then. When the government offers assistance, you receive the necessary tools to start your own business. You should act and file your taxes, just like we should, and what we should do.
“So, I want to urge the government to continue to support investment, particularly domestic investment. You invest more if you encourage. There won’t be jobs if you don’t encourage, he said.
Dangote praised Governor Agbu Kefas for organizing the Investment Summit, which he claimed would open up Taraba for business.
According to him, Taraba state has abundant resources, including vast arable land for agricultural production, which he claimed would lead to employment and reduce poverty in the state and the nation as a whole.
He promised to invest in Taraba State for his organization.
“We will make investments in Taraba State.” We won’t make any investments. It’s my home. He continued, “We will continue to create jobs.”
The private sector should play a more active role in resolving Nigeria’s persistent energy issues, according to members of the House of Representatives Committee on Privatization and Commercialization.
They cited the success of the Kano-based Bagaja Renewables’ 1MWp interconnected solar mini-grid project as a potent illustration of what can be achieved through public-private collaboration.
Chairman, Hon., as the leader. The lawmakers made the call while on an oversight visit to Bagaja’s state-of-the-art facility in Zawaciki, which provides clean, reliable power to underserved communities by supplementing the national grid.
Chidari praised the transformative potential of private investment in the power sector. Nigeria’s energy crisis can be resolved more quickly and sustainably, according to the statement.
Read more about Adelabu’s request for funding for TCN to boost infrastructure expansion.
Chidari argued that Nigeria’s excessive reliance on the central grid is no longer sustainable, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas where electricity access is still difficult to come by.
He urged both local and international investors to research opportunities for distributed energy technologies like solar farms and mini-grids.
The government is unable to go it alone. To promote innovation, efficiency, and expansion in our energy space, he said, “we need serious, committed players in the private sector.” This is not the case, but renewable energy projects like this must become the norm.
Bagaja Renewables’ Zawaciki project, which was created and run by Bagaja Renewables, aims to improve grid stability and reduce power outages for both businesses and households.
Sadiq Zakari, the managing director of Bagaja Renewables, reiterated the company’s commitment to providing scalable, clean energy solutions throughout the nation during the facility tour.
Zakari stated, “Our goal is simple: to close Nigeria’s energy access gap.” We’re demonstrating that reliable power can be found in every region of Nigeria with the right combination of investment and innovation.
He also praised Bagaja’s expanding portfolio, which includes the Kafin Hausa project in Jigawa and Kura-Karfi in Kano, both of which are aimed at supporting local industries and boosting rural electrification.
The lawmakers’ visit highlights a wider policy shift that, according to experts, is crucial to achieving long-term energy security by encouraging private sector participation in Nigeria’s post-privatization power landscape.
Both Manchester United and Tottenham both want a golden ticket to the Champions League after historically unfavorable seasons, so they square off in the Europa League final on Wednesday in Bilbao.
The two Premier League sides have lost a total of 39 times, with Spurs and United, who are only one place above the relegation zone, ranking 16th overall.
Yet one of them will be ecstatic when the San Mames stadium’s final whistle blows — not just a European trophy but also a financial windfall worth up to $ 100 million ($134 million) in cash.
In his first season at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim acknowledges that victory won’t solve United’s long-standing and deep-rooted issues, but he also acknowledges that it would alter the mood.
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On the eve of the game in northern Spain, the 40-year-old said, “We have bigger things to deal with than that. To put this club back to the top.”
However, he added that “if we win, people will view our team differently because it’s very important to win a European championship.”
Due to the club’s size and pulling power, the former Sporting Lisbon boss was keen to stress that the success of United depends not solely on the success of the Champions League.
However, Kieran Maguire, a professor of football finance, claims that it is “the most significant game in the club’s history” in terms of money.
United, who are struggling to balance the books and have access to vital funds for a squad rebuild, would benefit greatly from the enormous cash windfall from various revenue sources.
Whatever happens, the Portuguese manager’s job appears to be secure, despite the fact that United are on the verge of their worst league performance in 50 years.
Regardless of whether Ange Postecoglou, 59, ends Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought, many people believe the 59-year-old manager is heading for the exit door.
Nothing is guaranteed in life, and nothing is guaranteed in sport, the former Australia and Celtic coach said to the young people from day one.
You just need to make sure you take advantage of every opportunity, which is what I’ve done my entire career.
In his second season with Spurs, Postecoglou feels that he has unfinished business in London and thinks winning the Europa League might represent a “turning point” for the club.
He said earlier this month, “Until you actually do it, then it’s fair game for people to say, Well, you’ve always kind of fluffed it on the big stage.”
Tottenham have won the Europa League twice in its former form, the UEFA Cup, but not since 1984, despite not winning silverware since the 2008 League Cup.
The sixth all-English final in European football history is too close to calling.
This year, Spurs have defeated United three times, once in the Premier League and once in the League Cup.
However, three-time European champions United, who are chasing their first European victory since the 2016/17 Europa League, have recently won the League Cup and the FA Cup under former manager Erik ten Hag.
Since February 2, neither club has won any league games against rivals who are pursuing the Championship or each other.
Yet they remain undefeated in the Europa League.
With a 7-1 aggregate victory over Athletic Bilbao, United, the only team in continental competition this season, denied the Spanish side a fairytale final in their own stadium.
Bodo/Glimt, the Norwegian champions, lost 5-1 on aggregate to Tottenham.
Bruno Fernandes, United’s captain, and Casemiro, who has won five Champions League titles with Real Madrid, are United’ standout players.
Lucas Bergvall, a midfielder, will not face United, according to Postecoglou, who confirmed it on Tuesday. Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are also available.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) needs funding to expand the power sector’s transmission infrastructure, according to the Power Minister.
Adelabu made the call over the weekend while speaking at a Senate Committee on Power two-day retreat.
The minister argued that the TCN should receive funding under the appropriation bill, not to mention that the organization’s resources are insufficient to support its operations.
They lack the necessary funds, and they only run their internally generated revenue (IGR), which has declined over time. They are unable to pay their monthly salaries, nor are they able to maintain their outdated infrastructure and build new transmission networks. He claimed that TCN should be able to be accommodated in appropriation.
Adelabu addressed the ongoing crisis that is threatening to derail industry progress, which, in his opinion, continues to trajectorise service delivery across the country despite significant reforms in the electricity sector.
The Minister pointed out glaring differences in the performance of distribution companies (DisCo), which include aging networks, widespread electricity theft, and subpar investments that have increased reliance on unsustainable subsidies and left millions in darkness.
“We need to be tough with the DisCos because they can easily thwart our gains.” In terms of performance expectations, they have disappointed us. If consumers are frustrated at the distribution points, whatever we do in generation doesn’t mean anything.
He noted that while the sector was being restructured in 2003, the DisCos were supposed to have technical partners, but many of them showed that they had worked with foreign companies to achieve that goal, which lasted for about three months.
However, he claims that those businesses left right away as soon as they took control.
“We need utility companies that can invest in the sector to improve infrastructure, and likewise, improve service,” he said, adding that “many of them went to the banks to take loans to buy the assets, and after that, they are taking out the money to pay the loans,”
The distribution segment continues to be the weakest link, according to the Minister, despite tariff adjustments that increased market liquidity by 70%, increasing sector revenue from 1 trillion in 2023 to 1 trillion in 2024.
“Abuja DisCo accounted for 85% of Northern payments in the fourth quarter of 2024, with only 124.4% (30%) of their 240.86 billion invoice being sent to DisCos in the North.” Southern DisCos did a little better, sending in a whopping 254.6 billion (67%), despite having to pay only Lagos DisCos for 70% of it. These discrepancies are primarily the result of underinvestment and network degradation outside of economic hubs.
Adelabu noted that the government’s $ 700 billion Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) and a World Bank-backed program aimed at 4.3 million meters by 2025, and that an additional 200, 000 units are anticipated in May. This is a key driver of revenue loss and consumer distrust.
The Minister acknowledged that closing this gap is essential to fair billing and financial sustainability, but that underinvestment and operational inefficiencies are holding us back.
Additionally, generation companies are owed a 4 trillion dollar subsidy backlog, including 1.9 trillion for 2024 alone. The Minister warned that continuing to pay current tariffs is “unsustainable,” putting strain on public funds needed for infrastructure upgrades, as monthly shortfalls now exceed $200 billion.
We will soon begin restructuring underperforming DisCos and putting stricter performance benchmark enforcement in place to save the sector. However, without urgent funding for distribution networks, gains in generation, including a historic 6,003MW output in March 2025, and transmission upgrades, such as the deployment of 61 new transformers in 2024, won’t be able to provide reliable household supply.
The Minister praised plans to regionalize transmission networks and encourage private investment in grid infrastructure, noting that the two DisCos in Lagos’ 70% remittance reflects better infrastructure than that of the northern networks.
The Minister also mentioned plans to improve the country’s northern region’s power supply. The approximately 1000 megawatt Makurdi hydropower project is being investigated. Additionally, we want to revive the abandoned Kaduna thermal plants, which have been closed down for five years. It has a 215 megawatt power plant that is currently about 87% complete. This power plant is currently being restored in an effort to.
Adelabu reported that the state government is interested in acquiring the 10-MW installed Katsina wind farm. The State government has requested that some private investors be involved in this matter, and we have ordered a feasibility study to be conducted to consign the farm, which has been a while.
He demanded that more stringent laws be passed to protect Nigeria’s power infrastructure from vandalism.
Adelabu emphasized the necessity of stronger legal controls in order to stop the destruction of crucial energy assets and maintain the stability of the nation’s electricity supply.
The Minister believes that vandalism should not be a civil offense but rather a criminal one, adding that illegal connections, power theft, and nonpayment of bills by customers are all serious issues that need to be addressed.
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Adelabu acknowledged that despite the difficulties, the grid has been stabilized and that there hasn’t been a grid collapse since the start of the year.
“Our current grid’s stability is the result of our hard work and expenditure,” he said. TCN installed 61 new transformers in 2024, either by replacing them with brand-new ones or creating new ones. Additionally, TCN installed about 13 new transformers in its first four months, with capacities ranging from 10 megawatts to 300 megawatts. These are what our people still go out to vandalise, all put together, cost hundreds of millions of dollars to install.
Our towers have been toppled by saboteurs and vandals, and there are meters that people tamper with. The Minister urged appropriate legislation and public vigilance to safeguard “national assets,” which are owned by every Nigerian.
The newly rehabilitated and expanded Danbaba Suntai Airport in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, was inaugurated by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
He arrived in Jalingo on Wednesday morning, setting up the airport for the 2025 Taraba International Investment Summit, at around 10:17 a.m.
The state capital’s capital is the location of the summit, which is titled “Unlocking Taraba’s Investment Potentials: Advancing Agriculture, Energy, Mining, and Industrialization (AEMI) for Sustainable Growth and Development.”
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Potential investors from Nigeria and abroad are expected to be able to see the state’s vast agricultural, energy, and mineral resources at the Taraba International Investment Summit.
Bola Tinubu is representing Shettima at the gathering.